Several candidates took part in a primary political forum on Sunday at Wichita's St. Paul AME Church. The event was sponsored by 18 churches and organizations called The Voter Empowerment Committee.
The forum included Republicans and Democrats running for judicial office, Sedgwick County Commission, U.S. Congress and seats in the Kansas Legislature.
Moderate Republican Roger Elliott is running for State Representative in District 87, which covers parts of east Wichita. Elliott is a former Andover School Board member and a retired banker.
"I am advocating for bringing back a fair tax policy, to watch our debt load–which is extremely high, it's over a billion dollars currently," Elliott said.
Attendee Kameelah Alexander says she was glad to hear candidates say how they're interested in gaining more fiscal responsibility for Kansas.
"And that was most important, whether Democrat or Republican, just to hear that they understand that our state is in a financial crisis and that we need to improve in how our money is being managed," she said.
Several candidates agreed with reducing or abolishing the Kansas food tax, and some support Medicaid expansion in the state.
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Carla Eckels is assistant news director and the host of Soulsations. Follow her on Twitter @Eckels.
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